Suction-box vacuum-regulator for paper-machines.



APPLIOATION FILED 00127, 1905.

Patented Sept. 27, 1910.

gnuentoz Wdnaooeo f Y L WILLIAM H. MILLSPAUGH, OF SANDUSKY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SANDUSKY FOUNDRY & MACHINE COMPANY OF SANDUSKY, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SUCTION-BOX VACUUM-REGULATOR FOR PAPER-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

application filed October 27, 1905.

Patented Sept. 2?, iQiO.

Serial No. 284L655.

To all. whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. MILLS- PAUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sandusky, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suction-Box Vacuum Regulators for Paper Machines; and I do'hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled .in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Inpa er-making machines of the Fourdrinier type, as Well as the so-called cylinder machines, the paper pulp while forming on the wire or mold, or while on the felt, is passed over a suction-box or vacuum-chamber, for extracting water and moisture from the pulp. It is important to maintaina uniform vacuum in the suctionbox, in order to exert at all times an even pull on the wire or felt, and also to accurately govern the amount of the vacuum. The present invention accomplishes these objects by simple and eficient means.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification: Figure 1 represents in elevation a suction-box with pump and equalizing apparatus embodyin my invention. Fi 2 IS a central vertica section of the equa izing tank and its regulating valve.

A represents in cross-section the wire web or felt which carries the paper pulp over the suction-box B, for extracting the water and moisture from the pulp. A suction- G leads from the suction-box to a pump- 1pc Operation of the pump creates the socalled vacuum in the suction-box, and pumps out the air and water, discharging the same into the open.

Betweenthe suction-box and pump, the pipe C is in communication with a relatively large tank E, placed above the line of said pipe and virtually forming an enlarged part or chamber of the suction-pipe. The function of this tank is to equalize the vacuum and thus maintain an even ull on the wire or felt. To illustrate, in this class of machinery the vacuum for extraction of moisture is usually and preferably attained by means of a positive reciprocating power pump, connected ioy a pi e line with the suction-box, as illustrated 'ierein. Now the motion of the pistons being faster-at the middle of the stroke than at the ends, ceasing in fact at the ends of the stroke, there results an unequal vacuum or suction, with consequent unequal removal of water, and tendency to lock the wire or felt on the surface of the suction-box, frequently causing damage and also wearing the surface of the suction-box and shortening the life of the wires and felts. Without the tank E, the vacuum gage is seen to fluctuate from-practically nothing to the maximum attained at the middle of the stroke. But with this apparatus, the tank '15 equalizes the suction. lit stores vacuum so to speak during the middle of the stroke for the needs of the machine at the ends of the stroke and the vacuum ,gage shows a uniform and constant vacuum. This insures at all times an even pull on the wire or felt and'eliminates the evils of unequal suction entirely, prolonging the life of wires, felts and suction-box covers, and uniformly extractin the moishire from the paper stock. Sai equalizing tank E has a regulating valve F, whose office is to govern the amount of the vacuum. It is a simple valve opening inward, and held normally closed or against its seat by a weight G or other pressure, but adapted to open when an excess vacuum occurs, within the suction line-or tank, such as to cause the outside atmosphericpressure to overcome the weight. For example, if the machine is equipped with a large vacuum pump, and the sheet of paper should suddenly become heavier, an excess vacuum would be instantly created in the suctionbox, locking the wire thereof and causing damage. But with this apparatus the vacuum cannot exceed acertain amount, which may be predetermined by the weight, because air is admitted from the outside and breaks the excess vacuum.

The equalizing tank E is preferably a galvanized steel cylinder having closed heads with a nipple at one end for attachment to and communication with'the suction-pipe;

and the valve F is shown operating 1n a over single or duplex pumps, but do not fully equalize the pull. \Vith the present appa ratus, however, a perfectly even pull is at all times exerted on the wire, even with the use of single cylinder pumps, resulting in a uniformly dry sheet and a tendency to increase the life of the wires.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot' the United States is:

1. The combination, with the suction-box of a paper-machine, and its vacuum-pump connected therewith, of a closed tank or reservoir in constant communication with the suction line or conduit between the suctionbox and pump, said tank having an opening and, an inwardly-opening regulating Valve held to close the same by the pressure'in said tank together with an additional pressure less than that of the atmosphere.

2. A suction-box vacuum-regulator comprising a closed tank having means for connection to the suction-line of a suetionbox of a paper-machine and having a valve-controlled opening with a weighted or equivalently-actuated valve held seated against the same and adapted for inwardly-opening under atmospheric pressure When the Vacuum said tank exceeds a predetermined amount.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. MLLLSPAUGH.

\Vitnesses Crnxs. MOORE, J. R. GALLOWAY. 

